Great cover art on the New Yorker this week - a series of cartoon vignettes of Romney and Ryan with the title "Bromance". Here is the link so that you can view for yourselves -
"Bromance"
Upper left we have the boys smiling, embracing and waving to a cheering crowd. They look relaxed and happy and actually seem like they could be a father son team with their throwback retro good looks. Romney looks like Ward Cleaver. Now personally, I actually find Paul Ryan's appearance more reminiscent of a 1920s Arrow Collar ad - he always looks like an F. Scott Fitzgerald figure with his droopy eyes and center-parted hair. The mike stand adds a certain je ne sais quois.
Upper right Ryan and Romney with shirts off doing the manly "tinkering under the hood" thing. Again, the motif is retro - the car is old. Notice that Ryan is the only one with a tool and that the toolbox is over on his side. Although shirtless, Mitt is awkwardly wearing laced up shoes and short socks.
Center left After their long day, Ryan reads Romney to sleep with his favorite polemic, Atlas Shrugged. He is so engrossed that he doesn't notice Romney has already drifted off.
Center right Now this on is very interesting since this vignette speaks to the streak of cruelty exhibited by both but under the guise of misguided "hi-jinks". The innocent little dog is being lured with a chicken drumstick while Romney and Ryan are lurking behind the corner with tar and feathers. Naturally, we are reminded of Seamus strapped to the roof, but I am also reminded of the unthinking cruelty displayed by Ryan's budget. The electorate, like the dog is being baited with something that seems tasty and appealing (like fiscal responsibility, deficit cuts, etc.) but will soon be on the receiving end of something very unpleasant and even life threatening. This little miniature portrays both Romney and Ryan as the sociopaths they really are - the one who enjoys firing people and the other who wants the hungry to starve and the ill to go untreated.
Bottom Left Mitt and Paul drinking deeply from the same soda and looking lovingly at one another. Clearly they are soulmates who share the same philosophy and value sytem.
Bottom Right - Ryan carrying Romney piggyback. More good, manly hi-jinky fun. This obviously implies that Ryan will be the one responsible if they manage to cross the finish line in the the lead.
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The New Yorker is one of the very few magazines I subscribe to and wouldn't be without. Their cover art is often biting. This one will probably invite lots of comments - like the one they did of Barack and Michele giving each other a "terrorist fist bump" in the last election.